First Annual Toodyay Music Fest

The name Toodyay is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word ‘duidgee’ which means ‘place of plenty’, referring to the richness and fertility of the area and the reliability of the Avon River. I love walking through the town and seeing the hills in the not too far distance.

Walking around we could see the faded advertising on several walls. This one, Bushells tea, a part of Australian life since 1883,

Founded in 1836 and declared an historic town by the National Trust in 1980, the town today still displays fine examples of 19th century history, with architecture reflecting the early convict era. Historic buildings include the Old Courthouse (Shire Administration Centre), the Mechanics’ Institute (Toodyay Library), Connors Mill and the Old Gaol.

When we come across old gas stations (Now an auto center) like this, I often wish Paul from Severn Gas Pumps could see it.

Toodyay Fire Station was designed by architect Ken Duncan, a member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, and was built in 1939. It is notable for its Art Deco facade. It is one of two single bay Stripped Classical fire stations built during the Western Australian Fire Brigades Board’s 1930s building campaign. It is rendered in part and bricked to lower level, all painted

The Toodyay Memorial Hall is a heritage-listed building on Stirling Terrace in Toodyay, Western Australia. It was originally built in 1899 as the Newcastle Municipal Chambers.

Connor’s Mill is a steam driven flour mill and is still operational. The mill was built in 1870 by local builder George Hassel for Dan Connor, a store owner. It was the third built in the Toodyay district. The mill originally had a shingle roof, no turret and a slide from the first floor doorway to wagon height. This was used to slide bags of flour onto the wagons waiting below.

So we had been to Toodyay a few times before, and I can’t believe I never noticed this charming church behind a tree. St Stephen’s Anglican Church. A flooded gum (Eucalyptus rudis), said to be over 400 years old, towers over the church.

We went inside. I was excited to see an Anglican church on the inside. I looked at everything, the windows, the pews, the cross and seats in the front.

The architectural style of the church could be described as restrained Gothic with its pointed arched window and door surrounds. There are tall lancet windows to the north and south, with buttresses dividing the north and south façades into evenly spaced bays. Loved the light coming in through the window.

I climbed the stairs and stood high in the front. I had my 5 minutes of pretending to be the Vicar of Dibley.

And now we had our morning tour of the town, we settled in the park to listen to the group, Blues Confusion. For one song, the guitarist picked up a guitar he had made from corrugated iron. It had an interesting sound.

Next we listened to Blue Hornet. They had a wide range of songs. You know you’re going to hear just about anything from a group who played Pink Floyd with a guy wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt.

It sure was a friendly Music festival as this fellow from Blue Hornet later joined the next group, Another Fine Mess.

I really liked Blue Hornet and their wide range, but the next music group was just my favorite for the day, Another Fine Mess.

One of the reasons I liked them so much was not only did they have a song for about every decade, they had a wide range of instruments. The lady to the right played the guitar, the flute, and the sax, as you can see to her left.

And this member played guitar, trumpet and trombone.

Also the main vocalist was fun to watch, and it looks like she is having fun singing.

Another Fine mess had fans from all ages.

The evening finished with two tribute bands. We didn’t stay for the last one, we had a long ride home, But we did of course, stay for the Australian Beatles.

They were enjoyable, who doesn’t like Beatles songs? Here they are after a costume change.

John and I both noticed that the one that was supposed to be George, at times, eerily really did look like him.